The visit of Ali Mahmoud El Abdallah, President of the Lebanese-Chinese Business Association, to vital economic centers in China
The visit of Ali Mahmoud El Abdallah, President of the Lebanese-Chinese Business Association, to vital economic centers in China
Beirut, 18.11.2023
The President of the Lebanese-Chinese Business Association, Ali Mahmoud El Abdallah, visited China, where he conducted an extensive tour of vital economic centers and institutions. During the tour, he held discussions with Chinese officials on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and enable Lebanon to benefit from China’s capabilities in various fields, particularly in industry, energy, infrastructure, and others.
Ali Mahmoud El Abdallah emphasized that, “During the tour, I observed a clear Chinese desire to participate in Lebanon’s infrastructure projects. Chinese institutions and companies are eager to expand their activities in Lebanon, especially since they possess significant expertise in implementing infrastructure projects across the sectors that Lebanon needs to develop.”
The extensive visits, carried out alongside a series of official meetings, included several cities and provinces, including Shanghai, Chengdu in Sichuan Province, and Guangzhou in Guangdong Province. During the official meetings, El Abdallah met with senior representatives of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the Chinese Council for International Trade Promotion, the China Foreign Trade Center, and several companies, including the Suzhou Hengrui Group.
Meeting with the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade
On his first visit, El Abdallah met in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, with Vice President of the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Mr. Li Xiatiah, and officials from the International Relations Department, Ms. Dan Li and Mr. Tan Xingping.
During the meeting, El Abdallah discussed China’s growing economic role worldwide, the opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative, and Lebanon’s strategic position on the map of Chinese investments related to the initiative. The discussion also addressed the capacities of Chinese companies that can play a major role in implementing infrastructure and large-scale projects in Lebanon.
Mr. Li Xiatiah expressed the CCPIT’s interest in strengthening relations with countries in the Middle East. He noted that Lebanon, with its crucial role in the Eastern Mediterranean, is capable of economic revival through cooperation with international friends, including China, which holds the Lebanese people in high regard.
El Abdallah highlighted the need to further develop Chinese-Lebanese relations and for China to take a larger role, whether by consolidating peace and security in the Middle East or supporting the implementation of major economic projects that benefit all parties. He stressed Lebanon’s appreciation for China’s efforts, which contributed to normalizing Saudi-Iranian relations and resuming diplomatic ties. He added that China’s initiatives in the Middle East represent a positive and unexpected development for many countries and a historic step in the regional and global geopolitical landscape, especially amid rising international tensions, and called on CCPIT officials to visit Lebanon.
Meeting with China Foreign Trade Center
In his second meeting, El Abdallah met in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, with officials from the Canton Fair, including General Director of the China Foreign Trade Center, Alan Liu, and Deputy Director Yu Yi.
During the meeting, El Abdallah proposed dedicating a special pavilion for Lebanese companies at the next edition of the exhibition, which was welcomed by the fair officials. The discussion focused on enhancing cooperation between Lebanese companies and the fair administration to maximize the benefits for Lebanese companies participating in this international event, which attracts around 200,000 visitors from all over the world in each session.
El Abdallah said, “The fair represents a global platform for a huge number of companies targeting the Chinese market. This is precisely why Lebanese companies can meet Chinese and international companies at the fair simultaneously. Through active participation, Lebanese companies can open a direct channel to access the Chinese market, one of the world’s largest. Therefore, we view this fair as a unique opportunity for Lebanese companies seeking to expand the markets for their products and services.”
Meetings with Chinese Companies in Shanghai
El Abdallah also held meetings with several Chinese companies in Shanghai, including the Suzhou Hengrui Group, where he met the head of the group’s operations in Beijing, Ms. Zhang Wei Ying. The group specializes in multiple sectors, including export, trade, and large-scale projects.
The meeting discussed the group’s significant growth and expansion in various sectors, including renewable energy projects based on solar and wind power, implemented according to the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. El Abdallah noted that this type of project holds broad horizons and promising opportunities across the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, which enjoys abundant sunlight and wind throughout the year, while facing electricity shortages generated from fossil fuels.
